Ruth: [pleasantly to Sir Richard]
Is McMannon to your liking, Baron d'Arundel?
Narrator:
At this point, Friedrich (to Gallilei's left) is engaged speaking Tabytha. To his right is Richard, now speaking with Ruth. To his fore is Gloriana, who is busy with Brandon. Gallilei is unencumbered to observe the humans almost freely.
Richard turns to look at Ruth in time to catch Hesketh, who also has glanced towards the head of the table, keep himself from scowling. Hesketh turns away to say something to Elisabeth, and smiles at her when he does so.
After a brief pause, Richard chuckles quietly.
The interaction does not go unnoticed by Gallilei.
Sir Richard:
Lady Katherine, it has been a long time since I have been in McMannon. The land is beautiful and your people seem to have recovered from the long war much more quickly than I would have thought possible. Aside from an encounter with a chamberpot, of which you have no doubt heard, and a brief meeting with some bandits, my stay has been quite pleasant.
[This, of course, is a bald-faced lie. Between personal problems, snide comments about the chamberpot incident, and friction with Luther/Royals/mercs et al, Richard has had an absolutely miserable time since he landed.]
I wonder, however, if I might ask a favor of you, Lady Katherine. I have been informed that I said something that was extremely insulting to your homeland, and that this has been circulated. I have already apologized for it, but I'd be a lot happier if I knew what I had said and when. Sergeant Yasgar suggested that you might be able to remind me. I would consider it a personal favor.
Gallilei: [still thinking]
I wonder where Goldenbreeze got off to?
Narrator:
Jhereg leans forward in interest although the smile on his lips implies that he knows somewhat of this story already.
Ruth: [charming laugh]
Baron d'Arundel, why if the good people of McMannon have made you such a pleasant welcome, then all of the stories praising the great force of your personality must then be true! For the words you ask were not popular here, that is very true.
[Editor's note: This is meant to sound like the most diplomatic and charming way of saying "I don't believe you" that Richard has heard in quite a long while]
The most public figure in all of Chesterton truly doesn't recall the words that set half a duchy against him?
Narrator:
Gallilei, with that same fascinated gleam in his eye, turns towards the head of the table. While the Baron's disposition in the Duchy of McMannon may have its merits, the truly interesting interactions are occurring to his left. It takes a few seconds, but suddenly Gallilei is certain he has just witnessed a "silent double entendre." No words were spoken, but unless he was mistaken, Tabytha was doing more than just getting the last bit of meat off that chicken bone, she was imitating something completely different. The slight blush of red to Friedrich's face indicates that he was more than aware of a second meaning.
Richard, OTOH, can think of little else at the moment. He sighs heavily, frustration written on his handsome face. He responds with uncharacteristic directness, indicating to all who know him exactly how ragged his control is right now.
Sir Richard:
Lady Katherine, I haven't been in McMannon since shortly after the restoration of Lethbridge. In fact, I avoided McMannon intentionally, having no desire to deal with the cesspool of political intrigue surrounding the Regents. I cannot for the life of me recall any comment that I have made, public or otherwise, that might have caused such rancor. In sooth, the primary reason most of my stay here has been pleasant is because most of it has been spent on the road, away from an entire Duchy full of people who are angry with me for a statement that I don't even know that I made. I enjoy riding through beautiful countryside with Buekephalos. I do not mind having people upset with me; what I mind is not knowing why, especially when I am certain that whatever insult has been taken to heart by your people was unintentional. If someone could find it in the goodness of their hearts to simply believe me and tell me what I was supposed to have said, I would greatly appreciate it!
[takes a breath, gets a hold of himself again]
I apologize, Lady Katherine, for my short speech. I seem to be lacking in self-control today. Please forgive my rudeness.
Narrator:
A meal of bird, a young man blushing at a forward young woman. Gallilei is, once again, a passenger on a trip down memory lane.
Ed.K:
Eidetic memory is great for flashbacks.
Narrator:
Gallilei remembers a scene. Dissimilar in that they were alone. Similar in most every other way. It is a nice memory, one of those memories that are always labelled "carefully filed" in email scenery.
The meal was quail. He'd prepared it. Light, not so spiced as this chicken. The faint smell of jasmine. She always was fond of the flowers. Her blouse is visible over the table. Orchid....no, Antherium pink.
His body is on autopilot, feeding itself.
Ruth: [laughs merrily]
Oh, Sir Richard, you are everything they claim and more. But the apology is owed more to Lord Jhereg than to me, for he was singled out above all.
Narrator:
It's the first time Jhereg has heard the title "lord" given him from Ruth's lips. It gets filed - a favor owed. And, more importantly, a measure of support to the outside that is not always there in McMannon internal politics.
Richard wonders if "everything they claim and more" is an insult or a compliment or both at the same time...
Ruth:
You called Lord Jhereg haughty, scheming, and unscrupulous. But what rankled people high and low was calling the duchy a cesspool of deceit. Some of the same words that passed your lips as you asked of me what you said.
[Hesketh winces]
It is my understanding that you have apologized to the men for this, but I doubt that Lord Jhereg has heard your apology.
Hesketh: [unspoken]
So *this* is the woman who threw the army of the Regents into the sea.
Jhereg: [unspoken - a perfect peaches and cream smile on his face]
That's two I owe you Ruth. More if Richard actually apologizes to me publicly.
Rich:
Due to circumstances beyond my control Schol will not be appearing tonight. We now return you to your regularly scheduled apology.
Narrator:
Richard regards Ruth with an expression of mild astonishment. He opens his mouth then shuts it, momentarily speechless. He glances up the table at Jhereg, noting his attention, then returns his attention to Ruth. Again, his voice is scarcely louder than it was before, but now carries clearly throughout the area, past the servants, and into the world beyond. The tone is what Richard would call his speech-making voice: this is a public statement, not a conversation.
Sir Richard:
Lady Katherine, this is not the time for courtly speeches, so I will speak plainly. That statement was made privately, not publicly, and was obviously delivered without any sense of my meaning. What I meant was this: the previous Duke taught his nobles that deceit and the ruthless application of power were the ways to rule, and from Arundel it appears that they learned that lesson very well indeed. The Regents bore that out it in gore all across this land. Thus when I say that McMannon is a
[Ruth's face goes carefully neutral]
cesspool, I mean the political situation. I daresay you are still not finished cleaning house -- or, if you will, there is still some swampland festering in the hearts of your nobles that is yet to be drained. I would like to say something glowing about your Duchess, but the truth is that I hardly know Duchess Elizabeth. I can only say that she seems to be doing the right things, and I join thousands of other people across your Duchy and the entire realm in fervent prayer that your people's living hell has now ended. I never meant to suggest that your people were bad or evil, merely that they have been repressed and slain by a succession of unscrupulous nobles. I believe that this was, honestly, a misunderstanding, arising from a statement I should probably never have made, quoted widely out-of-context. I sincerely apologize for the hard feelings it has caused, for I have naught but respect and good wishes for the people of McMannon. I hope that the Chapterhouse has helped in some small way with restoring normal lives here, and stand ready -- as a man and a Paladin of the Helm both -- to aid this effort in whatever way possible.
As for Lord Jhereg, well... he and I have not gotten off on the right foot. When last I met him, he was at my cousin's wedding trying to gather political support for himself. I thought it inappropriate for the event and inadvisable in general.
[Turns slightly and speaks directly towards Jhereg]
And, I confess, my attitude towards you has been colored by my memories of your father. We did not part on good terms. I am too ready, perhaps, to take the worst possible interpretation of your motives. I hope you and I can get beyond our past differences to build a better relationship, based on the concerns of the people of McMannon.
Narrator:
Gallilei's memory date is talking, but in his mind he can't quite make out the words. It is an old memory. She was never a person for pure, idle chatter. Always something deep. She always made him think.
Gallilei: [thinking]
Made. Was. Past tense.
Narrator:
Like a funeral shroud, the darkening mood envelopes Gallilei. As it does, he returns more consciously to the present. He is still studying humanity. He is still watching and interacting with these people. But, the fascination, the joy is gone. What is left is the wall, that detached, disconnected feeling as if he were playing at shadows from behind a wall.
Richard concludes his little statement, somehow managing to leave the impression that he has just sat down even though he remained sitting the whole time. There is a pause around the table where everyone glances at one another to see if any more formal speeches are forthcoming before returning to more important gustatorial and recreational duties. Gloriana shoots Richard a sharp look, as if to say "How dare you interrupt my fun time with business, brother."
Jhereg: [unspoken]
Thank you Ruth.
[possible verbal response]
Ruth: [sweetly]
Richard, I trust I may call you just Richard, If you will dance the first dance with me then I forgive you. For over a year now my friends usually address me as Ruth.
Brandon: [voice for all to hear]
A toast then! For better relations between East and West!
Narrator:
He looks around the table, with the longest glance falling on Gloriana. The additional possible meanings of the toast are not lost on anybody, but even Hesketh is more than willing to drink to that toast.
Gallilei: [softer than he intended]
And West.